A new bilateral density filter with cross template for structural topology optimization

To suppress numerical instabilities and ensure manufacturability in density-based topology optimization, restrictions are required to be used. In this paper, a new bilateral density filter is presented. Different from the original bilateral density filter, the new filter uses a cross template and the range operator is changed. The purpose is to improve the ability of edge-preserving smoothing. Moreover, a continuation scheme for the new range operator is given to ensure a stable convergence to 0–1 solutions and avoid falling into local minima. The performance of the new filter for compliance minimization problem and compliant mechanism problem is demonstrated by application examples.